Following their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in a decade, the Indiana Pacers are riding high. Star forward Pascal Siakam re-signed with the team on a lucrative contract, but he did make a humorous slip-up during his press conference.
On Monday, Siakam inadvertently thanked his former team instead of the Pacers during his press conference.
“I wanna thank the Raptors… um, the Pacers organization for trusting me,” said Siakam.
The two-time All-Star, who was drafted by Toronto in 2016 and was traded to Indiana in January for Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora, and three first-round picks, mistakenly referred to his old team while addressing his new contract.
Indiana has clearly benefited from the trade so far, as Siakam averaged 21.3 points per game on 54.9% shooting, with 7.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 41 regular-season games last year.
His strong performance continued into the playoffs, leading to his new four-year, $189 million extension. Siakam also praised the franchise, as reported by Sports Illustrated’s Tony East.
“I’m really excited about the team’s future,” said the 2019 NBA champion. “I’m looking forward to getting started and seeing what we can achieve.”
Will Siakam and point guard Tyrese Haliburton be able to achieve great success together?
The Pacers are a couple of major moves away from being contenders for the championship.
Siakam highlighted his offseason meeting with head coach Rick Carlisle and the team’s coaches and executives as a significant point. The 30-year-old appreciated the effort they made to make him feel valued.
“It was great,” Siakam said. “They took the time to come and talk with me. It was important for us to get to know each other, to understand who I am as a player and competitor. My goal is to be on a team that aims to win, and everything seemed to align for us.”
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He also expressed his enthusiasm for Gainbridge Fieldhouse, praising the fanbase for its consistent support and vibrant energy.
“It’s incredible,” he said of the home environment. “The energy and passion are amazing.”
While Indiana’s current core of Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton, and Myles Turner should keep them competitive, consistently reaching the Conference Finals could be challenging. The Milwaukee Bucks will return with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the New York Knicks added Mikal Bridges, and the Philadelphia 76ers brought in Paul George. The defending champion Boston Celtics also remain a formidable presence.
Nevertheless, Siakam’s extension is a positive step for the Pacers and could help them build a foundation to potentially attract another star in the future.
